Steering Lock with a Chip, Communicating with a Switchboard

ABSTRACT

Present invention relates to an electro-mechanical anti-theft device suitable both to inhibit rotation of the steering axis of a motor vehicle and to interrupt feeding of necessary electric switchboards for correct operation of the same motor vehicle. As to this latter object of the invention, a signal originating from a chip, housed inside a protected cylinder, can be coded by a suitable switchboard, only when the steering lock device is disconnected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Present invention relates to an electro-mechanical anti-theft device suitable both to inhibit rotation of the steering axis of a motor vehicle and to interrupt feeding of necessary electric switchboards for a correct operation of the same motor vehicle.

In more detail, in relation to this last function, anti-theft device has the purpose to protect a chip whose purpose is either to supply or to negate consensus to supply electronic switchboards of a motor vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

An anti-theft device is started by means of a mechanical key that acts on a suitable mechanical device and that stops the steering axis rotation through action of a piston pin. At the same time, either closing or not closing or opening a suitable circuit negates consensus to a respective switchboard.

It is well known that there are many steering axis lock devices which are also provided with other functions. There are those assembled as standard items in motor vehicles.

These standard items, in fact, usually have a double function, the first one being to lock steering axis rotation and the second one being, at the same time as the first action, to allow motor vehicle ignition.

These functions are driven by only one mechanical key that, when extracted, from one side, starts a mechanical device that displaces a ratchet that engages a grooved bushing. The bushing is connected with the steering axis and, from another side, the bushing starts rotation of a key device switching off ignition contact of the main key.

A few standard more elaborate steering axis lock devices include a transponder in a mechanical key, the transponder being capable of talking with a switchboard whose function is to either allow or not allow motor ignition in order to protect the motor vehicle from an unauthorized use.

There are also a series of steering locking devices, of an auxiliary type, which were designed mainly to solve problems which are connected to fragility of the key device which is assembled as a standard item by manufacturing enterprises. Said devices provide, similar to the first ones, locking of the steering axis by means of an introduction of a padlock provided with a piston pin. Compared with those assembled as standard items, they are made with steel which is very resistant to breaking.

A few of these steering locking devices of this last type also provide insertion in a protected part of a micro switch in order to interrupt the contact set-up by key at ignition time. Consequently, vehicle ignition is inhibited in the case of a starting attempt with the anti-theft device inserted.

Standard steering locking devices assembled in motor vehicles show a series of problems. First of all, those connected with small mechanical resistance break. As a matter of fact, housings designed to contain the device are generally made of breakable materials like aluminum alloys or plastic materials.

Steering lock devices of the last generation, assembled as the standard, provide use of a transponder inside the key. The device is also equally evaded in the same time when it is possible to get into a motor housing of a motor vehicle.

In this case, it is, as a matter of fact, sufficient to substitute a controlled electronic switchboard with another one of the same type in order to allow starting of a motor. As far as supplementary steering locking devices, these solve the problem of mechanical resistance owing to use of a protected cylinder. At the same time, by cutting or someway taking out this cylinder, it is possible to disconnect the locking piston pin, making the steering wheel free to rotate in this way.

Furthermore application of a micro switch inside this device whose function is that of breaking the motor supply of the motor vehicle, does not solve any problem because it is sufficient to short circuit cables down stream of said micro switch in order to allow starting of the vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device, as the object of the present patent, solves the described problems, by giving an anti-theft device for motor vehicles with resistance and efficiency specifications of a supplementary anti-theft steering lock device. Action of a CHIP Dallas type is associated that communicates by a serial I-Wire Net® protocol, suitable to manage input signals of vehicle switchboards.

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to supply an anti-theft device suitable to inhibit motor vehicle switchboards in which it is assembled and, also in case of total or partial removal of a protected cylinder, a steering lock device and CHIP.

A further advantage is to be found in the fact that CHIP, because it is inside the same auxiliary steering lock device, it is protected from the same protection without any necessity to use further protection containers.

Finally, a further advantage with reference to anti-theft devices of known electronic types, is to be found in the fact that a protection device, as it is designed, does not interfere with other electronic devices assembled as standard in motor vehicles that allow its functioning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These purposes are obtained by the present invention, described in the following preferred embodiment which is not to be restrictive to further developments within patent range, with help of four drawings in enclosed tables.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention, along the axis of the device and with a few parts partially taken out, showing the state of a disconnected anti-theft device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the whole device with a few parts partially taken away, said anti-theft device being connected.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a device with a few parts partially taken out, in which CHIP feeler-contact alignment is obtained by an axial movement of the moving cylinder.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a device with a few parts partially taken out, in which alignment of CHIP contact-feeler is obtained by rotation of the moving cylinder;

FIG. 5A is a detailed perspective view of a further embodiment of execution of a contact between a feeler and integrated circuit, being obtained by means of a small flexible tongue, when the circuit is closed.

FIG. 5B is the same detailed perspective view of FIG. 5A, with an open circuit contact.

FIG. 6A is a detailed perspective view of another embodiment of the contact between the feeler and integrated circuit carried out by a small fixed tongue and feeler with a reaction sphere, when the circuit is closed.

FIG. 6B is the same detailed perspective view of FIG. 6A, with an open circuit contact.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a block diagram that describes how CHIP acts on a controlled switchboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention is made of an electromechanical anti-theft device made of a steering lock device A in which protection is housed in a CHIP 1 which has the function to negate or not to negate consensus to electronic switchboards C which are necessary to operate a motor vehicle.

The device is made of a fixed protected body 2 connected to the housing of steering columns by means of soldering, having the purpose of housing a second moving body 3 therein. A CHIP 1 is inserted into the second moving body 3, protecting the CHIP 1. In a preferred embodiment, both external body 2 and the moving body inside 3 are of a cylindrical shape, for the purpose of creating a motor vehicle steering axis lock. The moving cylinder 3 is provided with a small piston 11 at its end, suitable to be connected to a bushing which is connected and coaxial to the steering axis.

As mentioned above, a mechanical feeler 4 for the purpose of detecting the CHIP 1 code is housed in a radial way inside the fixed body 2, send the CHIP 1 code to switchboard C by means of a connection 9.

In a preferred embodiment, for the purpose of connecting moving body 2 to fixed body 3, two circular seats 15 and 16, having a suitable distance therebetween, are obtained in an inside surface of the moving same body 2. The lower seat 16 is for rest times of the moving cylinder 3, and the other higher seat 15 is necessary to stop the same in position of the connected steering lock.

The mechanical stop of the moving cylinder 3 with protected cylinder 2 is designed by using one or more spheres 18 that are housed in the mobile cylinder 3, getting out of the same necessary length in order to connect to holes 15 and 16 of protected cylinder 2. Spheres 18, in their turn, are reaction driven by a device driven by a lock 8 with a mechanical key 14.

Axial range of moving cylinder 3 can be found by a screw 17 introduced into fixed cylinder 2 whose end gets inside of the same to get into a buttonhole 13 designed on an external surface of moving cylinder 3.

Miniature CHIP 1, in a preferred embodiment, is housed inside a mechanical cylindrical feeler 5 threaded outside and closed at its upper end by a conducting tip 6. Moving cylinder 3, by making its way in protected body 2, carries together mechanical feeler 5 containing in its inside, CHIP 1.

In order to make a steering wheel lock and inhibit switchboard C, by starting from a stop position or when moving cylinder 3 is partially taken out, it will be sufficient to insert the mechanical steering lock A by compelling mobile cylinder 3 to displace axially along protected cylinder 2. Displacement of moving cylinder 3 will cause displacement of feeler 5 with CHIP 1 inside, thus causing, in the same way, interruption of the same circuit which starts at controlled switchboard C.

CHIP 1 is connected by means of its contacts respectively to tip 6 and to the surface of threaded container 5. For this purpose, same tip 6 is electrically insulated from said container.

In a further embodiment, described in FIG. 5, reading of code of CHIP 1 is carried out by means of a mechanical feeler including a small mechanical tongue 6 a slightly taken up with a reference point of support. When the anti-theft device is disconnected, small tongue 6 a will contact feeler 4 a and close the circuit.

Reading of CHIP 1 code can, finally, be done also by means of a further type of contact in which metal foil 6 b is fixed, while feeler 4 b shows a tip which has a reaction by a spring.

As described in FIG. 7, a signal coming from CHIP 1 is coded by an intermediate switchboard B that decodes said signal and, in case this last one is positive, it will supply a switchboard controlled by the motor vehicle with a consequent possibility of ignition of same motor vehicle.

It is a consequence that, in case of breaking by means of a cut and consequent taking out of protected cylinder 2, it will not be more possible to make a reading of a code of CHIP 1 and as a result controlled switchboard C will not be more capable to operate because it has no supply. 

1. Anti-theft device to mechanically lock rotation of a steering axis and to inhibit operation of switchboards of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a mechanical system having a protected fixed body applied externally to column of steering equipment and a movable second body bound to move inside said protected fixed body with axial displacements or rotations; a special device driven by a key lock at a turn; and a CHIP, located inside the movable body and in communication with a serial protocol, controlling a circuit supplying electronic switchboards of the motor vehicle to lock the steering equipment, said CHIP having consensus through insertion or connection of a mechanical steering lock, said CHIP being in communication with the controlled switchboard through a further switchboard with code reception and serial protocols, said CHIP having a signal to switchboards only with one condition, or that one corresponding to disconnected state of mechanical steering lock, realized by alignment of contacts that close circuit, respectively one connected to the fixed part and one assembled on the moving part.
 2. Anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein closing of circuit in conditions of anti-theft device disconnected is carried out by contacts of two parts, the first one CHIP connected with moving cylinder, being connected externally by a conducting cylindrical body in order to carry out mass contact at a top of which a tip is present, said tip conducting while insulated with reference to the moving cylinder, second part, external and also of cylindrical shape, being fixed in a radial way to the fixed body and being externally comprised of an insulating material and a conducting tip in order to read in alignment conditions—open steering lock—either code or consensus signal coming from the CHIP.
 3. Anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein a first contact is carried out by a bakelite plate for printed circuits, being connected from one side of CHIP and a contact on another side.
 4. Anti-thief device of claim 1, wherein CHIP is a different type of Dallas one with same specifications.
 5. Anti-thief of claim 1, wherein the communication protocol of CHIP with switchboard differs.
 6. Anti-thief device of claim 1, wherein the CHIP has a reading code with any type of contact or switch.
 7. Anti-theft device of claim 1, characterized by all which can be deduced by enclosed description and drawings. 